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RAM NAVAMI
MESSAGE OF SHRI C. B. SATPATHY
On one occasion, Shri
Shirdi Sai Baba advised one of His devotees working as
a Magistrate, to maintain 'probity' in personal and professional
life. The word 'probity' means a high standard of moral
behaviour or adherence to the highest principles and ideals
or in short, uprightness. People from all walks of life,
such as government servants like magistrates, revenue
officials, tehsildars, mamlatdars, police officials to
lawyers, artists, pilgrims, used to flock around Baba
at Shirdi, seeking His divine blessings, help and guidance,
both mundane and spiritual. Baba helped everyone as and
when required, without any considerations of religion,
caste, creed, temporal status or varied social differentiation.
Of all the advice
that Shri Sainath Maharaj rendered, the most important
and common advice was to maintain uprightness and honesty
in all aspects of life religious, social, professional
or personal. By asking the Magistrate to exhibit moral
conduct in his profession, Baba gave the message that
demonstrating the quality of righteousness in only one
sphere of life, is not conducive to spiritual growth of
an individual. It has to be practiced or adhered to in
every sphere of life.
In our ordinary life,
we come across many people, who demonstrate their quality
of piety by donating lots of money to the temples, but
shirk away in providing any such help to their poor domestic
servant, even if he or she may be in dire stress due to
any number of reasons such as the sickness of his or her
child. There are others who spend lots of money and time
on the rearing of their pet dogs, but do not think twice
before hurling abuses and even beat up urchins begging
on the street. Such examples are too numerous to be described
within the limited space of this article. Such people
show contradiction between their thought, intent and action,
where they display virtuosity selectively, sometimes simply
for their personal gains. Thus, the quality of uprightness,
probity and honesty are applied as utilitarian principles.
One need not be surprised at such examples, because to
be successful in the worldly life, most people take recourse
to such a formula. However, such an approach is not conducive
for those desirous of their inner evolution. The formula
that Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi prescribed, was upholding
the qualities of tolerance, compassion, uprightness, sacrifice
and non-attachment to be practiced resolutely in every
station of life be it professional, personal, religious
or social.
Those who followed
Baba's teaching in letter and spirit gained spiritual
progress much faster than those who did not follow. Shri
Sai Satcharitra cites stories of many such evolved souls
during Baba's lifetime, such as, Megha, who maintained
his simplicity till his demise, Bala Saheb Bhate and Kaka
Saheb Dixit who renounced worldly life entirely on the
bidding of Baba, while Mahalsapati maintained his non-attachment
to materialism. These exalted and noble souls, and many
others, who never faltered in sustaining their qualities
under the guidance of the Master of Shirdi, have been
praised in Shri Sat Charitra and elsewhere.
Therefore, it behoves
the true Sai devotees to consciously try to evolve the
best qualities in them, in all the activities they undertake.
No doubt, this is not at all easy to achieve, but steadfast
love, devotion and unwavering faith towards Baba will
gradually bring out the best qualities in them. May Shri
Sai bless us all, to be able to follow the path of righteousness
and uprightness.
C.B SATPATHY,
New Delhi
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